Lineup Prep: Wild Card Weekend
Wed Jan 11 9:16am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Kittle can keep it going this week
More and more fantasy owners are playing in playoff leagues, and for good reason. They are a lot of fun contests and leagues out there these days. We run several on our site. Your fantasy leagues don’t have to come to an end because the regular season is over. I highly suggest getting involved in a league if you can. It is a great way to get your fantasy fix a little longer. Plus, there are a lot of interesting formats for leagues, giving you a different fantasy dynamic than during the regular season. So we’ll continue with this column throughout the playoffs, getting you ready for your games each week.
With that said, here are my random thoughts for the week. . . . .
I’m really excited to watch the Jaguars this weekend. They are a team on the rise with a lot of top young talent. It will be interesting to see how they play on the big stage. Trevor Lawrence was a little shaky last week, so I’m wondering how he handles things this weekend. These playoff games can vault a players confidence in a hurry. I’m hoping Lawrence comes up big and balls out, keeping his progress going forward.
It really seems like the knee injury Lamar Jacksons suffered is pretty serious and he is in real doubt to play this week. You also have to wonder if the contract situation is playing into this at all for Jackson. Maybe he doesn’t want to risk anything without a long-term deal signed. Who knows? Either way, the Ravens have next to no chance to win that game this weekend if Jackson can’t play.
Here is to hoping the Bears use that first round pick this year to get the help that Justin Fields needs. Their offensive line needs upgrades and the passing game needs a lot of help at receiver. Hopefully, they can turn that top pick into a lot more picks to get Fields help. This is a big offseason for the Bears. I will be anxious to see how they handle it all.
I really do wonder how much of a negative impact Nathaniel Hackett had on Russell Wilson. He sure looked like a different quarterback after Hackett was fired late in the year. Maybe we shouldn’t give up on him just yet. The Broncos do have a lot of weapons in the passing game, so Wilson has a high ceiling if he can get his game back. Wilson surely will be a polarizing fantasy figure next season. I might be in on him for the right price, though.
I’m having a hard time deciding on the representatives for the Super Bowl this year. The AFC is really tough with the Bills, Chiefs and Bengals as legit contenders to go all the way. And I even think the Chargers are talented enough to make a run. So I really think four teams could go the Super Bowl out of the AFC. The NFC isn’t quite as tough in my view, mainly because the Vikings and Cowboys are limping into the playoffs. That leaves the Eagles and 49ers as the obvious choices. And it is hard to bet against the 49ers right now with that team playing so well. The big concern for me is Brock Purdy. Can he make the big play if called upon? So I say this with little conviction, I will go with the Bills and Eagles as the winner of their conferences. We’ll see how that works out!
News and Notes: Reports are the Cardinals plan to trade receiver DeAndre Hopkins this offseason. He is getting older and has battled injury the last few seasons, but could be a big help to a receiver needy team. . . . .The Ravens signed linebacker Roquan Smith to a five-year, 100 million dollar extensions on Tuesday. Smith is now a mainstay in the Ravens defense for years to come.
HOT PLAYS
George Kittle, TE, 49ers. It took a little time but Kittle is red hot right now. He has touchdowns four straight games and multiple scores three of those games. And one of those games came against the Seahawks, who he plays this week. Kittle had four catches for 93 yards and two scores against the Seahawks in Week 15. Seattle has struggled against the tight end all year. The Seahawks allow the second most fantasy points to tight ends. Kittle is setup for a big game in this one.
Travis Etienne, RB, Jaguars. Etienne struggled his last game, rushing seven time for just 17 yards. but that was against a good Titans rush defense. He had at least 13 fantasy points three straight before last week. And Etienne had 100-yard rushing games two his last three before Week 18. He can get it going again this week against the Chargers. The Chargers allow the seventh most fantasy points to running backs and rank 28th overall against the rush.
Chris Godwin, WR, Bucs. Godwin topped 100 receptions for the first time in his career this season. And this was a year he was coming off a torn ACL and missed a couple games because of injury. He is clearly healthy and the top target in this passing game. He has at least five receptions 14 straight games. Look for him to keep it going in the Bucs playoff opener. The Cowboys have had issues stopping the pass, so look for Godwin to get a workout. Dallas allows the fifth most fantasy points to receivers.
COLD PLAYS
Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys. Prescott is coming off arguably his worst game of the season. He was just 14-of-37 for 128 yards and a touchdown against the Commander last week. It was an alarming performance as the Cowboys head into the playoffs. And he plays a Bucs team on the road that is ninth overall against the pass to open things. It might be another long day for Prescott in this matchup.
Kenneth Walker, RB, Seahawks. Walker had a great rookie season, emerging as the lead back and producing big in that role. He had three straight 100-yard games to end his season. But the game before that streak was against the 49ers, a game he ran 12 times for just 47 yards. It might be more of the same this week against a very good San Francisco defense. The 49ers are second overall against the run and allow the fewest fantasy points to running backs this year.
Tua Tagovailoa or whoever plays QB for the Dolphins. Tagovailoa really cooled off down the stretch before his latest concussion. He had few than 20 fantasy points four of his last five games. He also plays the Bills this week, a team he scored about 33 fantasy points against in two games this year. Buffalo allows the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks for the season. Tagovailoa or whoever starts for the Dolphins at quarterback this week is going to be a risk for fantasy owners.
SLEEPERS
Daniel Jones, QB, Giants. Jones quietly put together a very good season. He took a big step forward this year in an offense that really lacks weapons in the passing game. Despite that, Jones was 12th overall in fantasy quarterback scoring. He had 25-plus fantasy points two straight games to end his season and topped 20 points four of his last five. He has a great matchup to produce in his playoff debut. The Vikings have struggled against the pass all season, allowing the fifth most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Minnesota is just 31st overall against the pass, allowing 265.6-passing yards per game.
James Cook, RB, Bills. Cook has enjoyed a bit of an up and down rookie season, but is playing his best football right now. He has double-digit fantasy points three of his last five games. Don’t discount him to have a big game or two in the playoffs. You could see the Bills getting up big in this one, running out the clock late in the game. This could mean more touches for Cook, who might be playing better than Devin Singletary right now. The Dolphins are solid against the run but have allowed 15-rushing touchdowns this season, which also bodes well for Cook.
Richie James, WR, Giants. James has emerged as the top receiver for the Giants. He has at least seven receptions three of four games. He has topped 17 fantasy points three of those games. He also has at least 13 fantasy points five of seven. He is getting it done on a weekly basis. And he gets a bad Vikings secondary this week. Minnesota allows the second most fantasy points to receivers. James is setup to top double-digit fantasy points once again.
High/Low Scoring Games
Each week we will take a look at some of the high and low scoring games for the coming week. In high scoring affairs, get your marginal players on those teams in your lineup to take advantage of the possible points barrage. And in the low scoring games, keep those marginal players on the bench and make sure to have your defenses involved in those contests.
High Scoring Games: Chargers/Jaguars, Giants/Vikings.
Low Scoring Games: Cowboys/Bucs.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
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The Paur Report
Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (hamstring) was limited in Wednesday's practice ahead of Week 3's home matchup against the Raiders. This seems to be a new injury for McNichols, and the severity is unknown at the moment. McNichols is set to step into a larger role in Washington's backfield as their primary third-down and pass-down back with Austin Ekeler out for the season. McNichols is a highly trusted veteran in pass protection, and he showed some ability to be versatile last season, gaining tough yardage as a runner and catching some passes as a receiver. His most important skill is pass protection, which will keep him on the field a lot. That makes him worth considering as an option to pick up off the waiver wire to see how the Washington backfield shakes out.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel saw his first game action in the NFL in their 41-17 Week 2 blowout at the Ravens. He completed all three of his passes for 19 yards and a touchdown. With the offense scuffling with Joe Flacco as the starter, discussions about a quarterback replacement are starting to pop up in Cleveland, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Fowler says that Cleveland's situation "bears monitoring" in response to the question of which quarterback is most in danger of being benched. While Flacco is safe for now, he compared the situation to Jacoby Brissett with the Patriots last season. Drake Maye's first NFL start came at home against the Texans in Week 6 of last season, for reference. Gabriel has operated as the No. 2 quarterback all summer and has been praised for his mobility, quick release, and overall grasp of the offense. It will likely only be a matter of weeks before Gabriel slides in as the starter in Cleveland. He makes for an intriguing upside swing to stash in redraft superflex leagues and deeper formats.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin (knee) returning in Week 4 'feels like a real possibility,' sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
Fantasy Spin: Godwin hasn't officially been ruled out for Week 3, but it sounds like Week 4 is a more realistic possbility for his return. Even when he does return, it could take Godwin a few games to find his rhythm, and he will also have to compete with Emeka Egbuka for targets. Godwin is worth stashing, but he doesn't need to be starting until he proves it on the field.
From TheHuddle
New York Jets wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. Reynolds hasn't been on the practice field since last Thursday due to a shoulder issue. He sat out last week's game and is in danger of missing the Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His absence should result in a higher workload for Allen Lazard. However, there's really no viable receiving options on this team outside of Garrett Wilson. The Jets are going to be without Justin Fields (concussion), so Tyrod Taylor should be under center. Even if Reynolds plays, fantasy managers can find a better streaming option for Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram (back) was held out of Wednesday's practice session. Engram was dealing with a calf issue last week, but still managed to play in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. However, fantasy managers might not have noticed he played considering he only hauled in one catch for 12 yards during that contest. The veteran tight end has a total of four catches through the first two weeks. His decrease in usage should be more of a concern than this back injury. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday for another update on his status. If he sits, Adam Trautman would see an increased role for the Week 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Engram should be rostered in most formats, but is tough to trust after two straight duds.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) was spotted doing some running on the side during Wednesday's practice. It sounds like Aiyuk is continuing to make progress, but is still going to be sidelined for a few weeks. He's currently on the physically unable to perform list through Week 4. There haven't been many updates on his status lately. The assumption is that Aiyuk should be ready to play around Week 5 or 6, but there should be a better timetable closer to that date. Aiyuk should be stashed in most 12-team formats as he'll likely be a focal point of the offense once he's ready to play.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice session. Mooney missed most of training camp and Week 1 due to a shoulder issue. He made his season debut last week, but was mostly quiet on the field. He hauled in two of his four targets for 20 yards in the victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The fact he was a limited participant on Wednesday could be the Falcons being cautious. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday to see if his status changes at all ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The veteran wideout should be rostered in most 12-team formats despite a slow start.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten (shoulder) was limited during Wednesday's practice session. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried as Tuten still has plenty of time to get ready before the Week 3 matchup against the Houston Texans. Without Tank Bigsby in the picture, Tuten was able to make a big splash last week. He rushed eight times for 42 yards while adding two receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Sadly, Tuten is going to have his value limited as the backup to Travis Etienne Jr. right now. Despite that, Tuten should continue to see his role rise if he plays well. He should be rostered in most 12-team formats at the moment even as the backup.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason is expected to be the main focus in the running game over the next few games. Recently, head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed confidence that Mason has bellcow potential. They expect Mason to handle a significant rushing workload while Aaron Jones (hamstring) is sidelined. The Vikings believe Mason is a multi-faceted player that can do just about anything on the football field. So far this season, Mason has rushed 24 times for 98 yards over the first two games of the season. There's not much competition behind Mason in the backfield right now. He should see all the carries he can handle, which should at least offer RB2 value for their upcoming matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said that second-year wide receiver Troy Franklin is "starting to develop into the player everyone knows he can become." Franklin, who was teammates with Nix at Oregon, had a breakout game in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, catching eight of his nine targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. The 22-year-old wideout currently leads the Broncos in targets (15), catches (12), and receiving yards (133) through the first two games in 2025. Franklin probably won't take over WR1 duties from Courtland Sutton, but a second-year breakout could very well be in the cards for him, especially because of his strong chemistry with Nix. His primary competition for weekly targets will come from Marvin Mims Jr., who is more of a big-play deep threat than one who will be consistently peppered with targets. If you need WR help early on, Franklin is definitely worth a waiver-wire pickup.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams (non-injury) was given the day off for rest and did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Fantasy Spin: Adams has made an immediate impact for the Rams, logging a team-high 21 targets through two games. Perhaps more importantly, both he and Puka Nacua are putting up strong numbers simultaneously, so there is reason to believe that Adams can continue to have success. At the very least, Adams is a WR3 with upside.
From TheHuddle
Denver Broncos rookie second-round running back RJ Harvey is "an important piece of what we're doing," according to head coach Sean Payton. That may be true, and Harvey could see his role grow as the season progresses, but right now, his fantasy value is capped with J.K. Dobbins serving as the RB1 in Denver. Harvey was out-touched 15-6 by Harvey in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and finished with only five carries for eight yards (1.6 yards per tote) while adding one catch for a nice 16-yard gain. In the season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans, the UCF product had six carries for 70 yards and one reception for a loss of a yard. The 24-year-old is slippery with plenty of big-play potential, but right now, he's merely an RB3/flex for fantasy managers with a low floor and ceiling. Harvey and the Broncos also have a difficult upcoming divisional tilt against the 2-0 Los Angeles Chargers on the road this Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams OG Steve Avila (undisclosed), DL Braden Fiske (undisclosed), WR Davante Adams (non-injury) and OT Rob Havenstein (non-injury) did not practice Wednesday, Sept. 17. TE Colby Parkinson (shoulder) was a limited participant.
From TheHuddle
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray didn't exactly ease fantasy managers' concerns regarding second-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. when talking to the media on Wednesday. "There's only one ball. We've been playing this game for a long time. Some days he's gonna get 10, and some days he might get 3. You never know," Murray said when asked if he felt Harrison should have more targets through two weeks. Harrison and Murray supposedly improved their chemistry in the offseason, but through two games, we have yet to see it. The 23-year-old former fourth overall pick is tied for 49th among WRs with 11 targets through two games and has caught seven of them for 98 yards and a touchdown. It might take Harrison a bit more time to reach his true potential, but fantasy managers will be hoping he'll rebound in a divisional matchup this Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (ankle) is dealing with an ankle injury and was listed as a limited participant on the first injury report of Week 3 on Wednesday. It's probably just a bit of rest for the veteran RB early in the week, but it's something worth watching the next few days for fantasy managers. The 27-year-old has been Green Bay's workhorse back through two weeks, as expected, handling 42 carries for 150 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and two touchdowns on the ground, adding one catch for four yards. The Packers will have more than a week of rest going into a Week 3 tilt against the Cleveland Browns, so we'd expect Jacobs to return to practice later this week and play on Sunday. Jacobs should be considered a must-start RB in fantasy if he's active. If he's out or limited, both Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson would likely share backfield touches.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers DE Nick Bosa (non-injury), OT Spencer Burford (knee), DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), WR Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder), FB Kyle Juszczyk (concussion), RB Christian McCaffrey (calf), S Siran Neal (concussion) and OT Trent Williams (knee) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17. QB Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe) was limited during practice, while RB Jordan James (finger) fully participated in practice.
From TheHuddle
The Washington Commanders are expected to "err on the side of caution" with quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) as he battles a knee sprain that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers last Thursday night, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Daniels will not practice this week until at least Friday, and if there is any doubt at all by then, the team is expected to keep him out in Week 3 on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. In a best-case scenario, it seems like Daniels will be questionable this weekend. The Commanders had backup Marcus Mariota meet with the media on Wednesday, an early sign that they are leaning toward starting him under center against the Raiders. Fantasy managers should not plan on having Daniels available in Week 3. If he's out, Washington could lean on the ground game more with rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr., who will be making his 2025 debut after Austin Ekeler's season-ending Achilles injury in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Fantasy Spin: McCaffrey probably will not practice much this season but is on track to play in Week 3. He has been productive in both the running and passing game over the first two weeks and is a must-start option in all fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Kansas City Chiefs DE Mike Danna (quadriceps) and CB Kristian Fulton (ankle) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17. WR Jalen Royals (knee), WR Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and OT Josh Simmons (illness) were limited during practice. WR Hollywood Brown (ankle), DE Ashton Gillotte (elbow), QB Patrick Mahomes (wrist), DE Charles Omenihu (hand), OT Jawaan Taylor (ankle, knee) and LB Drue Tranquill (knee) fully participated in practice.
From TheHuddle
Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (wrist) fully participated in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Fantasy Spin: Mahomes is off to a pretty quiet start to the season with 445 passing yards and two passing touchdowns but has been able to help his fantasy value by rushing for two touchdowns and having at least 55 rushing yards in each of the first two games. He may get one of his receivers back this week and can be a starting option in all fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
